Darwin Mid Suburbs Needs Assessment

Darwin Mid Suburbs Needs Assessment July 2016 DARWIN MID SUBURBS NEEDS ASSESSMENT Contents 1. Introduction 4 1.1 The Study Area 4 1.2 Study Context 4 2. Regulatory and Policy Context 6 2.1 The Northern Territory Planning Act 6 2.2 The Northern Territory Planning Scheme 6 3. Demographic Context 9 3.1 Darwin Mid Suburbs Existing Population 9 3.2 Expected Future Population 13 4. The Planning Journey 14 4.1 Expected Outcomes of the Darwin Mid Suburbs Area Plan 14 4.2 Formulation of the Area Plan 14 4.3 How this document works 15 5. Residential Areas 16 5.1 Introduction 16 5.2 Context 16 5.3 Community Feedback 18 5.4 Implications for the Area Plan 22 6. Activity Centres 24 6.1 Introduction 24 6.2 Context 24 6.3 Community Feedback 27 6.4 Implications for the Area Plan 27 2 DARWIN MID SUBURBS NEEDS ASSESSMENT 7. Industrial Areas and Service Commercial Areas 28 7.1 Introduction 28 7.2 Context 28 7.3 Community Feedback 30 7.4 Implications for the Area Plan 30 8. Social Infrastructure 31 8.1 Introduction 31 8.2 Context 32 8.3 Community Feedback 37 8.4 Implications for the Area Plan 38 9. Movement and Transport 40 9.1 Introduction 40 9.2 Context 40 9.3 Community Feedback 46 9.4 Implications for the Area Plan 47 10. Essential Services 48 10.1 Introduction 48 10.2 Context 48 10.3 Community Feedback 50 10.4 Implications for the Area Plan 50 11. Environment and Heritage 52 11.1 Introduction 52 11.2 Context 52 11.3 Community Feedback 55 11.4 Implications for the Area Plan 56 References 58 Attachments 59 Darwin Mid Suburbs Needs Assessment 3 DARWIN MID SUBURBS NEEDS ASSESSMENT 1. Introduction 1.1 The Study Area • recognising the increasing importance of: • readily available and affordable housing; The Darwin Mid Suburbs are strategically located between the major centres of the Darwin CBD and • integration of land use and transport; and Casuarina, within the boundaries of Ludmilla Creek • a more efficient urban form; and and Rapid Creek. The Darwin International Airport and RAAF Base exists to the east of the study area. • opportunities to use undeveloped or underdeveloped sites in established areas to The ‘Mid Suburbs’ includes the suburbs of: increase housing diversity. • Ludmilla (excluding the portion south of Nemarluk Drive, which has been included in the Inner The Darwin Mid Suburbs will have a role in Suburbs Area Plan); accommodating a share of the population growth expected within the Darwin region over the next 40 • Coconut Grove; to 50 years. The Mid Suburbs will be required to • Nightcliff; accommodate a proportion of the 2 490 new infill dwellings that are forecast for the Mid and Northern • Rapid Creek; and Suburbs in the far term. • Millner. These dwellings will be provided through infill development. The Northern Territory Planning Commission is responsible for the preparation of 1.2 Study Context strategic land use plans to establish a framework to The Darwin Regional Land Use Plan identifies guide future infill development. threshold populations of 150 000 and 250 000 to guide identification of land required to accommodate In mid 2015, the Minister for Lands and Planning future growth in the short and longer term. The gave a mandate to the NT Planning Commission projections indicate that a population of 150 000 for to prepare a strategic framework for the Darwin the region could be reached within 5 years, with a Mid Suburbs called an Area Plan. The Area Plan longer term projection of 250 000 residents in 40 to is intended to establish a framework to guide future 50 years. development and accommodate the projected growth in the Mid Suburbs. The adoption of this framework The Darwin Regional Land Use Plan stipulates that will work towards better integrating land use, transport the land use structure identifies residential land with and infrastructure planning, and deliver improved the potential to eventually accommodate a regional development outcomes for the community, with population in excess of 500 000 people. sensitivity to environmental and heritage values. The plan adopts basic principles for future residential The Area Plan also clarifies development choices development that include: rather than continued uncoordinated responses to • meeting the continued demand for traditional low population growth pressures. The clear principles density houses on individual lots; and guidelines within the Area Plan also reflect the demands and aspirations of the wider community. • increasing the choices in housing types, both on higher density more compact urban residential lots and a range of rural lifestyle lots; 4 Figure 1 - Darwin Mid Suburbs Scope Area DARWIN MID SUBURBS NEEDS ASSESSMENT 2. Regulatory and Policy Context The NT Planning Act and the NT Planning Scheme regulate the use and development of land in the 2.2 The Northern Territory Darwin Mid Suburbs. Planning Scheme The NT Planning Scheme contains provisions that 2.1 The Northern Territory include: Planning Act • statements of policy with respect to the use or development of land; The Planning Act provides for appropriate and orderly • provisions that permit, prohibit or impose planning control of the use and development of land conditions on a use or development of land; in the Northern Territory. Section 2A states that the intended objects of the Act are to plan for, and provide • provisions that provide instructions, guidelines or a framework of controls for, the orderly use and assessment criteria to assist the consent authority development of land. The objects are to be achieved in assessing development applications; by: • other provisions in connection with planning for, or (a) strategic planning of land use and control of, the use or development of land; and development and for the sustainable use of resources; • maps, plans, designs and diagrams. (b) strategic planning of transport corridors and The NT Planning Scheme includes statements of other public infrastructure; policy to establish the expected nature of future (c) effective controls and guidelines for the development and guide the interpretation of the zones appropriate use of land, having regard to its and associated development provisions. A zoning capabilities and limitations; map for the Darwin Mid Suburbs is at Figure 2. (d) control of development to provide protection Policy documents within the Scheme are intended of the natural environment, including by to assist in the interpretation of the Scheme and the sustainable use of land and water resources; determination of the Development Consent Authority and (DCA). (e) minimising adverse impacts of development on existing amenity and, wherever possible, ensuring that amenity is enhanced as a result Darwin Regional Land Use Plan 2015 of development. The inclusion of the Darwin Regional Plan 2015 as a policy document under the NT Planning Scheme has established an avenue as a means to provide a strategic policy framework to guide the future growth Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment and development of the Darwin Region, including the Darwin Mid Suburbs. The Darwin Regional Land Use Plan 2015 is a policy document within the Scheme that establishes a high level policy framework relevant to the Darwin Mid Suburbs. Darwin Regional Land Use Plan 2015 i 6 Figure 2 - Darwin Mid Suburbs Current Land Use Zoning DARWIN MID SUBURBS NEEDS ASSESSMENT Compact Urban Growth Policy 2015 Compact Urban Growth is based on core principles to encourage development: The Compact Urban Growth Policy 2015 (CUGP) as a reference policy document of the NT Planning • around activity centres and public transport nodes, Scheme provides a consistent and transparent where dwelling and activity density may be at its set of benchmarks that will assist a decision highest; maker in determining the merits of higher density • along transport corridors that are within 400 residential development proposed by an Area Plan, a metres of an activity centre; rezoning application or an exceptional development application. • that maximises cycling and walking access to public transport, commercial and community The Darwin Mid Suburbs Area Plan incorporates facilities; and principles as stipulated in the Compact Urban Growth • that provides a zone of less intense development Policy, and provides an additional layer of fine-grained as a transition to lower densities of the policy to guide development intent in this strategic surrounding locality (generally 400 m around the locality. activity centre and public transport node). The Compact Urban Growth Policy aims to The Compact Urban Growth Policy also establishes create compact and mixed activity localities that that areas outside 400 m from a designated activity contribute toward improving people’s lifestyle and centre will experience minimal change in residential creating socially, economically and environmentally density. Densities transitioning from activity centres sustainable communities. The concept as pertained should be respectful of the scale and character of in the policy document is that higher density the surrounding locality and in keeping with changes residential buildings are encouraged, and are usually reasonably anticipated within a locality. a key component of a Compact Urban Growth locality as illustrated in Figure 3 below. The focus of the Compact Urban Growth Policy is the improvement of urban sustainability, and balancing environmental, economic viability, social equity and liveability outcomes. Lower densities/ continuation of Public transport node rad and activity centre existing density 400m ius m rad 200

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